It was just a typical normal day like any 9-5 job… Next thing you know I’m flying under the door of my wife’s SUV.

Dan Clark, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Motor vehicle safety

When your work takes you on gravel roads, be cautious and slow down
Speeding on gravel is more dangerous than wet, snow-covered or even muddy roads.

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People in SK were injured in motor vehicle collisions while on the job in 2021
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People died in work-related motor vehicle collisions in 2021
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The second leading cause of workplace death is motor vehicle crashes
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That’s how much more likely driving on gravel is to result in a fatal collision

“You always want to arrive to your destination safe and the biggest thing is you can’t do that if you’re not cautious, patient or distracted. Be smart, show up safe.”

– Dan Clark, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Know the risks

The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and SGI compared data from 2009 to 2017 to determine which contributing factors are most likely to cause motor vehicle crashes with injuries or fatalities. The results of the Saskatchewan WCB and SGI motor vehicle collision report can be found below and throughout the webpage.

Fatalities by cause of injury

Bar chart representing three categories of fatalities by cause of injury. The bars depict the frequency of incidents with the following causes: heart attack (lowest bar), motor vehicle collision (middle bar) and asbestos exposure (highest bar).

Males are more likely to be in a collision with injuries and fatalities

Rain, snow, hail, fog, and strong winds are 1.27x more likely to cause vehicle collisions with severe injuries or fatalities

Driving in the dark or at dawn is more likely to produce a collision

What type of collisions are more likely to cause fatalities?

Single-vehicle collisions are more likely to result in injuries or fatalities compared to multi-vehicle collisions.

No

What season are drivers more likely to be in a collision?
Winter
Yes!
Collisions with injuries and fatalities are more likely in winter weather
Autumn
Spring
Summer
Which road surface is most likely to cause a collision with injuries?

Videos

Watch these videos on motor vehicle safety.

Five tips

To help you stay safe behind the wheel.

Pay attention.

Distracted driving is the No. 1 contributing factor in collisions overall in the province, according to SGI. Key distractions include texting, using voice-activated technologies, eating, drinking, grooming, pets and chatting with passengers. What’s the most distracting task while driving? The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) cites programming a GPS or navigation system. CAA also says drivers who check their phones while driving are eight times more likely to be in a crash.

Watch your speed.

Speed limit signs indicate the maximum speed you should be driving under ideal conditions. You may need to reduce your speed for conditions such as inclement weather, glare, darkness, potholes and traffic flow. Driving faster than the traffic flow and frequently changing lanes to pass other vehicles increases your collision risk, as does driving too slowly.

Don’t drive under the influence.

Consuming alcohol, drugs or even over-the-counter medications can lead to impaired driving, which is a chief cause of motor vehicle incidents and fatalities on Saskatchewan roadways. Cannabis can impair co-ordination and reaction time, as well as attentiveness and ability to make decisions and judge distances.

Check your tire pressure and treads.

Ensure that your tires are inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Do this when your tires are cold — twice monthly, ideally, and before heading out on long trips. And don’t forget to check your tires for sufficient tread depth. After all, the rubber on your tires will quite literally be hitting the road.

Keep a safe following distance.

To avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of you, give yourself enough reaction and stopping time. And while you can’t prevent a driver from rear-ending you, make it a habit to stop smoothly and gradually. Watch for speed changes in the traffic pattern and stale green lights. On the highway, stay a safe distance away from trucks. “In a lot of cases, the public doesn’t realize what it takes to stop a commercial vehicle travelling at 100 km/h,” says Russ Turgeon, membership development and services co-ordinator with the Saskatchewan Trucking Association and a former trucker. Another key concern of truck drivers, he says, are tailgaters who travel so closely behind that they can’t be seen because of the trucker’s blind spot.

Weather and safety

Weather alerts and recommendations

It’s always a good idea to make a trip plan when driving on the highway for work. Consider the weather and how it will affect your route and travel time. Checking road conditions, weather and road closures can mean a safer trip home.

Saskatchewan highway updates
  • Highway Highway 1: From Manitoba Border to Caronport
  • Highway Highway 1: From Swift Current to Alberta Border
  • Highway Highway 1: From Rush Lake to Swift Current
SASKATCHEWAN WEATHER